Author Archives: jtarpin

During my gap year, there were an infinite number of amazing moments that I’ll remember and cherish for the rest of my life. However, if I were to pick three of my favorites it would be volunteering in Miami for Art Basel, climbing to the top of the Duomo Milan, and having conversations with theContinue reading “A Reflection”

Throughout the last year, there have been moments where I was brave, kind, and/or resilient. I think that my bravest moment was being able to move to a foreign country alone. As a teenager with protective parents and who’s independence often felt limited like dog on a leash, the idea itself was unfathomable to notContinue reading “Brave, Kind, Resilient”

If there’s one piece of advice that I’ve learned over the last year and that I’d give to other students planning their gap year, it’s to trust yourself. I’ve always been an overly introspective and critical person which I know many people my age are. We’re young and naive and often many of us haveContinue reading “Take My Advice”

Because of the nature of Italy and its abundance of amazing art, the number of breathtaking masterpieces I encountered while there was astounding. However, the piece that branded itself into my brain and made a permanent mark was the Statue of David located in the Galleria dell’Accademia. Though I had a list of things doContinue reading “Resonating Through Art”

A big part of my journey on my gap year was the encounters I had with people along the way. One of the greatest interactions I had along my journey was in Milan. I had just arrived at my hostel and I wasn’t very familiar with the area and seeing as it was dark out,Continue reading “The People You Meet”

When starting my gap year, my main goals were to learn a new language and gain a sense of independence. As I prepare for the start of my freshman year of college, I feel successful in those goals. In regard to language learning, I feel especially content. This is because with my time I wasContinue reading “Progressing Towards My Goals”

As my gap year rears its end and my adventures abroad have temporarily come to a close, I’m back home and I wanted to share what an average day in my life has been like in Miami, Florida. I begin my day at around 7 A.M.—something I can’t say is normal on the weekends—and makeContinue reading “A Day in My Life”

One of my most emotional yet memorable moments during my gap year was getting lost on the train in a foreign country with no internet. For the rest of my life, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget the amount of fear, anxiety, and relief a series of unfortunate events brought me thatContinue reading “A Memorable Moment”

Probably the most shocking revelation of the past twelve months spent on my gap year has been about how much beauty and art surrounds me. When starting my gap year journey, I made it a goal of mine to focus on my creativity because I felt like I had neglected it for much of myContinue reading “Beautiful Revelations”

As I inch closer and closer to the 1-year anniversary of me graduating high school, one thing has become abundantly clear: the June 2021 version of me is completely different from who I am now…well, sort of. When I graduated last year, I was a scared, freshly 18-year-old girl, who didn’t know if making theContinue reading “A Graduated Perspective”